Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi all, I have a 2000 GPX and I am finding that after I start the bike when I go to put it into 1st from N, I pull the clutch in and then Click it into 1st and the whole bike jerks me forward and stalls. But after that i start it up and its fine. it is also fine when i stop at the lights and put it in N, then take off. seems to only do it if I have turned the bike off the restart it, but does it more often when cold.
I have topped up the oil recently, could it be a problem with the 2 different oils clashing?
any idea what the problem cauld be?
Cheers
Glenn

Kwakka clutches/gearboxes are renowned for being a bit *howyagoin* when cold. When you warm it up, give it a rev or 2 before dropping it into gear. I could free up your sticky clutch plates with a decent burnout but that may give you palpitations.......it will work tho...

If you have mixed 2 different 'types' of oil, if they are the same weight, it won't matter too much. Just avoid any oil that is 'friction modified', this will well and truly stuff your clutch.

I think you should buy some new oil of the correct weight, go for a good long ride, then dump the old stuff and start with fresh oil. This *might* just fix your problems.

Other *possibilities* include a poorly-adjusted clutch lever, or clutch actuator.......

It's pretty common, try pushing a cold bike in gear with the clutch in. Fckn hard work and a lot easier when warm.

Most wet clutch bikes will do what you just described. The oil is cold and thick and sticky is all.

Dont worry.

Cheers guys, Its probably due for a oil change Ive only done 4000kms on it but I have done alot of hwy riding and fun around the mountains so the revs are always pretty high.

All the same, winding on a bit more clutch cable adjuster probably couldn't hurt.

My mates old GPX would always do it cold, no matter how tight the clutch cable was. Just grab a heap of front brake and fire it up in first.

You can also give it a bit of a rev as you shift into first...

Cheers guys, I have been told to hold in the clutch for 10-20 seconds before I put it in gear and have tried this 3 times now and has worked so far. So hopefully this problem wont get any worse.
Cheers again
Glenn

Just thoght Id write this up incase anybody else get on here asking about the same problem in the future.
But seems that holding the clutch in for 10-20seconds in N before putting it into first seems to have helped.But I have also put a 10W-50 MC oil in the bike which also may of helped. I did do the clutch thing several time before I put the new oil in and didnt have a problem then so hopefully this fresh oil may fix the problem but time will tell after a few test. I also checked the cable and seems to be good. Will keep posted.
Cheers Guys for your help
Glenn

Ok the fresh oil didnt do anything.
Ive done 80km sinse the fresh oil has been put in.
I started the bike in N pulled the clutch in and put it in 1st strait away(not doing the hold the clutch in for 10secs) and it jerked me forward and stalled.Bugger!
As I let the clutch leaver out I did notice a little bit of play in it so I have tightned it some more and will see how that goes.
This holding the clutch in seems like it might have to do.

Glenn, don't worry, ALL bikes do the same thing, the clutch plates stick together when they are cold, try this put the bike on a race stand and do the same thing even after the engine warms up it will still turn the back wheel even with the clutch lever pulled in, oil drag on the plates not as much when the bike warms up the only reason you can not feel it on the road is that it is just less.

Thanks guys, Yep found out its normal for my bike when its cold. Ive just got to hold in the clutch a bit longer before taking off when its cold to let all the oil slip between the clutch plate and all should be good .
I think the problem has always been there, but now that I have more confidence on the bike I go through the motions of taking off alot more qicker now, so clutch isnt been held for as long before i ride off.
Thanks for all your help guys
Glenn

How long do you let your bike warm up before moving off.

This seems to be quite common... my old GPX600 did this, as does my brother's GPX600, my old GPX250 and the ZZR250 loaner my girlfriend has...

1. Hold the front brake on HARD, and STAND on the back brake;
2. Pull clutch lever in;
3. Give it a BIG rev, and engage first gear , as close to simultaneously as possible
4. It *should* not stall, it may *clunk*, but the combination of braking, and big rev(to get clutch basket spinning faaast), *should* see you right.

Don't try this on a wet driveway , and if the problem persists, change your oil more regularly, and get the clutch adjusted correctly.....